Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, with Alden González of ESPN among those to relay word from manager Dave Roberts. The righty will make at least three rehab appearances before rejoining the big league club, the first of which will be around one or two innings.
Buehler, 29, is a potential difference-maker down the stretch for the Dodgers, both because of his previous levels of excellence and the challenges the club has faced in the rotation this year. From Buehler’s debut in 2017 through 12 starts last year, he owns a career earned run average of 3.02 in 638 1/3 innings. He struck out 27% of batters faced in that time while walking just 6.3% and keeping the ball on the ground at a 45.4% rate.
Unfortunately, he required Tommy John surgery in August of last year, putting him on the shelf for the remainder of that campaign. It also was fair to wonder if he would be able to return at any point in 2023, given that the recovery period from that procedure usually pushes towards the vicinity of 14 months. However, he has said this year that he would target a return in September, which seems to still be on the table.
Roberts said Buehler returning as a reliever is not an option, so it seems the plan is for him to return as a starter, though he might not have enough time to be fully ramped up at first. His rehab will start with one to two innings, as mentioned, presumably building his pitch count gradually over a few more outings. He could then return to the big leagues in mid to late September, though perhaps still requiring some kind of bulk pitcher to come in behind him.
Even with some limitations, the Dodgers would surely be thrilled with whatever Buehler can provide. Their rotation has lost both Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin to season-ending surgeries, while Michael Grove is also on the injured list. They acquired Lance Lynn at the deadline and tried to add Eduardo Rodriguez as well, though he used his no-trade clause to block the deal and stay with the Tigers.
They currently have Lynn, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías and Bobby Miller in four spots, with Ryan Yarbrough taking on bulk innings out of the bullpen. Younger pitchers like Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Pepiot and Gavin Stone are on the 40-man and have been bouncing on and off the active roster as needed.
The club is a lock to make the playoffs, as they have a 83-50 record and a 13.5-game lead in the National League West. That puts them nine games ahead of the Central-leading Brewers, making a first-round bye also a strong possibility. That should give them some flexibility with the remainder of their schedule to get a look at Buehler, who could jump into the postseason rotation if all goes according to plan in the next few weeks. Whether he’s still limited to short outings or has been fully stretched out by that point will be determined in the weeks to come. In 79 2/3 postseason innings for his career, he has a 2.94 ERA.
Returning before season’s end would also be good for Buehler personally. He is set to reach free agency after 2024, meaning he would surely love to finish this year strong before going into an important platform season.
Bringing him back as a starter this quickly seems aggressive. Hopefully it works out better for Walker than it did for May. So this means next year’s rotation will probably be Kershaw (likely to resign imo), Miller, Buehler, Lynn plus a free agent like Urias, Yamamoto, etc?
Innings limit on Buehler in ‘24?
One of these years Kershaw is going to finally say “I’m done”.
One of these days it’s going to be Monday.
Eduardo Rodriguez stayed with the Tigers? What gives?
Highly aggressive? Sure ruin Walker because you got Kershaw and Lynn…? LA mentality, NY mentality too? Severino got rushed back and the twins lit him up in the postseason?
I can see Lynn getting lit up in the post season and those 3 run Homer’s are back breakers, just ask the 2022 NY mets…
Dodger pregame yesterday said he is making 3 rehab starts then coming up.
Finally. His day off is over.
Hello, we are Dodger. We do all win things. For now, because, why? You know championship, and window closes before open? Sometimes! A lot!
Only fools question the Dodgers current choices. They are the class of the rich teams. They’re medical staff is first rate. They haven’t made any Anaheim Angel type decisions this decade. I believe Buehler will be ready to sling when they say he is ready to sling.
So if he’s starting only and not relieving, he’ll be able to make what, 2 starts for LA after his rehab stint?
Is he eligible to be on the postseason roster? If not, what’s the point? Why rush him back?
He has the competitive edge of Michael Jordan, that’s why. It’s obvious. If anything, HE demanded the early return, not the Dodgers.
briar-patch: He can demand it. He can throw a tantrum, scream naughty words or hold his breath until he turns blue. It’s still up to Roberts, the coaching staff and other great minds in the organization as to whether Buehler pitches again this season.
He’d be eligible, but it remains to be seen if they’d use a playoff roster spot for a starter who can’t really start. That worked out very badly with Gonsolin last year. The Dodgers are in the process of giving their starters extra rest between starts, so Buehler most likely gives them some innings over the last two weeks, and then sits for at least the NLDS.
I’d rather see Buehler as a long opener with Yarbrough or Pepiot in long relief than Lynn any day of the week.
Any day but yesterday, you mean? I was in the house for that heartburner but I still know Lynn had been very good for the Dodgers up to that point. Whether he pitches himself into the playoffs rotation depends on his next few starts, not one game.
Blue skies: At the rate he’s going, Lynn will give up more home runs than Olson hits.
Idk, it seems like Lynn’s carriage has turned back into a pumpkin.
One game?
That one game was pretty much a microcosm of his season.
And as I said, the next few starts will be determinative, not just the one.
At the very least, getting a couple games in at the end of the season could give Buehler a normal offseason. Optimistically it gives the Dodgers a great piggyback situation with Buehler and Yarbrough.
Optimistically is right.
I think it’s the new mindset for MLB. Sign the flamethrower & let him throw until he needs TJ surgery or some other type of surgery once or twice. When one goes down, call up the next one.
Heard he had quite a day off.
The LA Rams have given up 109 points in just three preseason games. Combine that with their brutally difficult schedule, and there is a very realistic possibility they finish the year 0-16
There is a zero percent chance they finish with a record of 0-16. They play 17 games.
Hey, the Lions were undefeated in preseason games in ‘08, maybe the Rams will go 16-0 haha
frangiegxiii: Since we’re off-topic, I have a question for you or any other football fan: Why is football called football? The only time feet are used is when the players stand on them. Everywhere in the world except the US, soccer is called football. It makes sense since feet are used to pass the ball, kick the ball toward the net, etc.
“Everywhere in the world except the US”…. Australia has their own version called Aussie Rules Football, hence their national football team called the ‘Socceroos’ but go on….
Handball was already taken. There were no bases or baskets on the field. Maybe it could have been called hardball since most plays are measured in yards. Since that didn’t sound right, maybe measurements in feet or one foot increments made sense?
IDK otherwise.
This can be a disaster. I’m afraid he might suffer the reinjury like Dustin may did
He already did. This was his second with the team. Now what?
An exploding head, obviously.
(His first TJ was before he was drafted, FWIW)
What I’m saying is I think Walker would be better off resting until next season to avoid a Dustin May type of reinjury.
Mr big dig: Walker has to come back this season. With so many injuries, the Dodgers will need a fourth to roll Lynn out to the mound for his next start.
I’m sure nobody with the Dodgers medical staff thought of that. Send them your bill.
I hope it works out for Walker and the Dodgers, but sometimes your mind writes checks your body can’t cash.
Another miracle recovery for the spoiled rotten Dodgers and their phony fans with no knowledge of baseball
🙁
It’s interesting that three of the thinnest pitchers in the game (Buehler, McKenzie, Sale) are all great pitchers but also spend a lot of time on the IL.
Muted
Is it just me or this guy the most underrated pitcher in baseball along with Julio Urias and Tyler Glasnow
Yanks2: It’s just you.
He’s only making 8M in salary and he has a career 3 ERA and a good win-loss record though
The Dodger brass isn’t dumb. I have to believe that the d0ctors are okay with this, and the re-injury risk isn’t great. Look at the risk/reward. The reward being a few limited starts for the rest of this season, and the risk being losing him for all of 2024. I can’t believe they would move ahead with bringing him back if they were at all unsure. As someone who’s not a Dodger fan, this news isn’t good. A good team getting a guy like Buehler back at this stage, even in a limited capacity, has to be a boost for them.
Yeah but did they check with the MLBTR doctors first?
I’m not expecting any contribution from him this season, especially if they will not use him in short relief. Has there ever been a case in which a pitcher had TJ midseason, then returned late the following season and contributed meaningfully as a starter?